Right now The Way Old Friends Do is playing in Birmingham. A newly written play about an Abba tribute band, but with a gender-swapping controversy. Those who act as Agnetha and Frida are men, while Björn and Benny are performed by women.
– I thought about which role or play I would most like to be offered. The answer was to be a member of Abba. Then I worked backwards from there to come up with a plot that would allow me to be that, says actor and playwright Ian Hallard.
He has been a huge Abba fan practically all his life. His mother was pregnant with him in April 1974 when Abba won Eurovision with Waterloo and when Ian was three he pretended to be Agnetha in home-knitted yellow braids.
In the play, two childhood friends are reunited, both grew up with their own secret. One was gay, the other an Abba fan. Ian Hallard has experience in both areas.
– Coming out as gay was the tougher journey. I was never in the closet as an Abba fan, he says, telling how he was laughed at when he wished for Dancing Queen by DJs or at parties.
The play is directed by Hallard’s husband, Mark Gatiss. They have collaborated before both on stage and in TV series such as Sherlock and Dr Who.
“Even Madonna had to beg”
After a couple of weeks in Birmingham, a UK tour awaits. Ian says he knows that Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson are often in London to watch Voyage, the concert with the ABBA players, but he feels torn if they or anyone from Abba would appear at any show.
– I don’t know if I would be able to perform if they were in the audience. I would be way too excited or terrified. What if they didn’t like the play? That would be terrible!
In any case, Benny Andersson has heard about the play and approved that the Abba song that gave the play its name may be performed during the performance, something that pleased Ian Hallard.
– They are very careful about their heritage. Even Madonna had to beg and plead for permission to use Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! to Hung up, he says.
The play is not a musical and takes place mostly backstage, but Ian promises that it is still filled with Abba music. If he were to form a real Abba band, he has many songs he would like to sing.
– My favorites are mostly from the later records. Head over heels, which is also the name of the tribute band in the play is a favorite. Oneofus and the new Don´t shut me down are others that I like.
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